Simple Mobile Registration:  A mechanism enabling people to use electronic mobile devices and their messaging capabilities-instead of the traditionally used personal computer-to sign-up or register in real time for access to services and applications delivered via mobile devices

ABSTRACT

Simple Mobile Registration (“SMR”) allows users of electronic mobile devices to register themselves—and their specified friends—to use any electronic service that is delivered by either mobile device or computer to solely pre-registered users. 
     Presently, any user who must register for a service generated on a mobile device can only do so via personal computer equipped with email and Internet connectivity. The more logical choice is for that user to register in real time and without need for Internet connectivity with the very mobile device he&#39;s already using, instead of searching for a computer with Internet connectivity. 
     The SMR mechanism consists of a user interface collaborating with a proprietary Software Application that governs the inter-workings of programmed routines and sub-routines, Messaging &amp; Processing and User Data Management modules, and a standard messaging protocol, such as MMS, SMS, SMTP, or HTTP.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Simple Mobile Registration is a mechanism that allows users to send a registration request for themselves and for their specified friends, from their mobile device via any existing electronic messaging protocol to the underlying software application's Messaging and Processing System, a “receiving system” module of the overall Simple Mobile Registration System (“Receiving System”). The Receiving System (1) returns a verification code to the user's and his specified friends' (collectively, the “Registrants”) mobile devices, also via one of the electronic messaging protocols. Each Registrant verifies his intention to register by sending the verification code back to the Receiving System. The Receiving System automatically identifies and validates each Registrant and his respective verification code, and then creates a registration account that allows each new Registrant to access and use the service that required the pre-registration.

The SMR mechanism consists of a user interface collaborating with a proprietary Software Application that governs the inter-workings of programmed routines and sub-routines, Messaging & Processing and User Data Management modules, and a standard messaging protocol, such as MMS, SMS, SMTP, or HTTP.

DRAWINGS Brief Description of Drawings

The invention will be more fully understood, and further objects and advantages will become apparent in the following detailed description of the accompanying diagrams:

FIG. 1 (of 2) is a diagram of the Simple Mobile Registration mechanism as used by persons who wish to sign themselves up with their mobile device for any electronic service requiring pre-registration. Presently, any user who must register for a service generated on a mobile device can only do so via personal computer equipped with email and Internet connectivity. The more logical choice is for that user to register in real time and without need for Internet connectivity with the very mobile device he's already using, instead of searching for a computer with Internet connectivity.

Key to Reference Numbers

-   101=A User (i.e., sender) has a mobile device with messaging     capability and intends to use the device to sign up (register)     himself with an electronic service. Example: John Doe wishes to     register for a membership with MajorLeagueBaseball.TV (the     “Electronic Service”). John is walking in the street and uses MMS or     SMS to sign up for a membership with his cell phone. -   101 a=The mobile device User sends a message to an Electronic     Service. -   102=The Messaging and Processing System is triggered. -   103=The Messaging and Processing System checks the User's     information. -   104=If the User is currently registered, no further action is     required except for normal system operations (unless other     individuals have been included in the message—see FIG. 2). -   104 a=If the User is not registered, the User Data Management System     creates a unique record for that User within the User Data     Management System identifying the User's registration status as     “unregistered.” -   105=If User is mot registered, the system stores his phone number. -   106/106 a=The Messaging & Processing System then sends the User a     verification electronic message containing a unique verification     code, as well as any instructions required by the User to continue     the process, and, if applicable, to use the service or application     after registration is complete. -   107/107 a=When the User receives the verification message on his     mobile device, he must return a message to the Messaging and     Processing System and include the unique verification code that was     included in the message he received, in order to verify his desire     to register. -   108=The Messaging and Processing System receives the verification     message from the User. -   109=Upon receipt of the verification message from the User, the     Messaging and Processing System updates that User's record in the     User Data Management System with information identifying him as an     activated or registered user. -   110=If the verification message is not received, then the user is     not registered until it is. -   111=The registration for this user is completed, and the system     initiates any further actions associated with the receipt of the     User's original message (at 104 a).

FIG. 2 (of 2) is a diagram of the Simple Mobile Registration mechanism as used by persons who wish to register other third parties (such as friends) with their mobile device for any electronic service requiring pre-registration.

Key to Reference Numbers

-   201=A User (i.e., sender) has a mobile device, such as a cell phone,     with messaging capability and intends to use the device to invite     third parties (e.g., friends) to sign up (register) with an     electronic service. -   201 a=The User included information and Identifiers for other     potential recipients of the message (i.e., Invitees), triggering the     Messaging and Processing System. -   202=The Messaging and Processing System initiates an additional     sequence of actions based on this information, as follows: -   203/204=Captures the Identifiers for the Invitees, and checks the     User Data Management System to see if any of the Invitees are     currently registered. -   204 a=For any already-registered Invitees, no further action is     required except for the normal operations performed by the Overall     SMR System to complete the Simple Mobile Registration and/or by the     overall Service or application. -   205=If included Invitees are not registered, the Messaging and     Processing System creates a unique record for each such unregistered     Invitee within the User Data Management System, where they are each     identified as an unregistered user. -   206/206 a=The Messaging and Processing System then sends an     electronic message to each of the Invitees, using their mobile     device phone number, or email address, or IP address, consisting of     the following: (a) an invitation to register with the Service or     application, and (b) a unique code specified by the Messaging and     Processing System, and (c) any instructions required for the     unregistered Invitee to complete the registration process and, if     applicable, instructions for functions provided by the Overall SMR     System and/or the overall Service or application once registration     is completed. -   207/207 a=When the Invitee receives the verification message in his     mobile device, he must return to the Messaging and Processing System     the message containing the unique code in order to verify his     registration. -   208/209=The Messaging and Processing System is programmed to perform     one of two actions at this stage. -   210=If the Messaging and Processing System does not receive     verification code, then the User is not registered. -   211=If the Messaging and Processing System does receive the     verification code, then it (a) validates the User, (b) updates the     newly registered User's record in the User Data Management System     with information identifying him as an activated or registered User,     thus completing the registration for this new User (and former     Invitee).

SPECIFICATIONS

Presently, any user who must register for a service generated on a mobile device can only do so via personal computer equipped with email and Internet connectivity. The more logical choice is for that user to register in real time and without need for Internet connectivity with the very mobile device he's already using, instead of searching for a computer with Internet connectivity.

Simple Mobile Registration is a mechanism that allows users to send a registration request for themselves and for their specified friends, from their mobile device via any existing electronic messaging protocol, such as, but not limited to, Short Message Service (“SMS”), Multimedia Messaging Service (“MMS”), Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (“SMTP”), and HyperText Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”) (collectively referred to herein as the “Messaging Protocols”), to the Messaging and Processing System, a “receiving system” module of the overall Simple Mobile Registration System (“Receiving System”). The Receiving System (1) returns a verification code to the user's and his specified friends' (collectively, the “Registrants”) mobile devices, also via one of the electronic messaging protocols. Each Registrant verifies his intention to register by sending the verification code back to the Receiving System. The Receiving System automatically identifies and validates each Registrant and his respective verification code, and then creates a registration account that allows each new Registrant to access and use the service that required the pre-registration.

The Simple Mobile Registration mechanism requires the following hardware, software, and components to function, and the total of those hardware, software, and components is collectively referred to herein as the “Overall SMR System”:

Hardware: Any mobile device, such as, but not limited to, a cell phone, a smart phone, a Personal Digital Assistant, or an Enterprise Digital Assistant, using a Messaging Protocol for transmitting electronic messages from one person to a service or application or to one or more separate persons (the “Message”).

Software: The underlying proprietary software application (the “SMR Software Application”) governing the Simple Mobile Registration mechanism for purposes of (1) accepting specific identifiers or the lack of such identifiers in Messages, (2) distinguishing the difference among primary, unique identifiers, such as telephone numbers, email addresses, and IP addresses, and other identifiers, such as a request to register the sender, a request to invite the sender's friends to register along with him, keywords, symbols, tags, and labels, and/or any other specific identifier in the subject line or in the body of a Message (collectively, the “Identifiers”), (3) deciphering the meaning and purpose of the Identifiers or of the lack of an Identifier (such as, for instance, using an asterisk between open and closed carat marks to signify that the SMR Software Application must perform a specific activity, (4) processing and/or performing the actions required by any Identifier or lack of an Identifier, which actions will be implemented by means of a variety of routines and sub-routines that are written into the SMR Software Application, including, but not limited to, the following examples:

-   -   (a) Receiving a Message containing a primary, unique Identifier         the Application does not recognize. If a prospective registrant         (the “User”) sends an electronic message to an address         associated with the SMR Software Application from a mobile         address that is not already in the Overall SMR System's User         Data Management System, then the SMR Software Application will         first verify, through a series of specific, coded routines, that         the Message was sent by a legitimate sender, after which it will         perform one of the following activities:         -   i. If from a legitimate sender, the SMR Software Application             confirms that the User wishes to register himself and/or to             invite others to register (the “Invitees”), and then             processes the registration, which includes giving the sender             a series of choices, such as, but not limited to             opt-in/opt-out privacy and other similar user-associated             choices. In all cases in which SMR is invoked, the             registrant may be the original User or any one or all of the             Invitees that sequentially derive from the original User and             then from Invitees themselves, ad infinitum.         -   ii. If not from a legitimate sender, the SMR Software             Application terminates all activity with respect to that             Message.     -   (b) Receiving a Message from a User who is or is not already         registered, and which Message includes transmission information         for Invitees, some, or all of whose unique Identifiers are not         in the user database.         -   The Overall SMR System looks for a unique user-associated             Identifier in a mobile device message, such as, but not             limited to a cellular carrier's name, or an IP address, or a             cell phone number. If one or more of the Identifiers are not             in the registered-user database, then the Overall SMR System             flags the message as coming from a potentially unacceptable             sender (the SMR Software Application is written to             “recognize” specific Identifiers in the subject line or in             the body of the Message.) In such a case, the SMR Software             Application will (i) first verify that the Message was sent             by a legitimate sender, then (ii) confirm that the User             wishes to register himself and/or to invite others to             register (the “Invitees”), (iii) verify that each Invitee is             legitimate and unregistered, and (iv) if so, expedite the             Registration, which includes giving the sender a series of             choices, such as, but not limited to opt-in/opt-out privacy             and other similar user-associated choices. In all cases in             which SMR is invoked, the registrant may be the original             User or any one or all of the Invitees that sequentially             derive from the original User and then from Invitees             themselves, ad infinitum.         -   However, if the SMR Software Application determines (i) that             an unregistered sender is not legitimate, then all activity             with respect to that Message is terminated, or (ii) that a             registered sender has provided defective Invitee             information, then the System generates an alert to the             sender that such information is defective and the invitation             request for that defective Invitee alone will be terminated.     -   (c) If a User sends an electronic message (or uses any other         Messaging Protocol to transmit his message) to a service or         application that uses the SMR Software Application to process         Registrations, such as enrolling for a membership or signing up         for a subscription to a service, and the message is addressed to         a telephone number or email address assigned by a carrier or by         the service or application provider, and/or the message has         other legitimate Identifiers in the subject line or in the body,         the SMR Software Application is written to discern the presence         of acceptable Identifiers and will initiate a series of         automatic, electronic routines whose collective purpose is (i)         confirming that the User wishes to register for an offered         service, or to enroll in a specific group, or to sign up to         benefit from an offered application (together, the “Service”),         and (ii) confirming whether the User has provided appropriate         information indicating his desire to invite friends to enroll         (the “Invitees”), then the SMR Software Application expedites         the Registration, and provides the sender a series of choices         related to the sender's preferences. An example of the use of         SMR for these types of Service Registrations includes the         following:         -   A Sponsorship Sign-Up example using MMS. It's 10:00 p.m. and             XYZ Company's and ABC Company's Chief Marketing Officers are             attending an industry event with their peers. They hear of             an advantageous sponsorship opportunity on             AllSportCelebrities.com and learn that there is only one             such opportunity remaining. The Chief Marketing Officer of             ABC Company (“ABC CMO”) pulls out his mobile phone, and             directs an electronic MMS message to             marketing@AllSportCelebrities.com, which is known to use the             SMR mechanism. Simultaneously, the Chief Marketing Officer             of XYZ Company (“XYZ CMO”) goes in search of a computer.         -   10:01:30 p.m., the ABC CMO finishes composing his message             requesting the sponsorship opportunity and sends it,             triggering the following activities:         -   10.02:00 p.m., the ABC CMO receives an electronic message             from SMR in his mobile device saying something like the             following:             -   Welcome to [etc.] We received your request for a [Name                 of] sponsorship opportunity. Please verify that you made                 this request by returning this message to us (just hit                 “Reply”). Upon receipt, you will be assigned a Sponsor                 Account.             -   Sincerely,             -   AllSportsCelebrities.com             -   Communication Code No. 89034.         -   10:02:10 p.m. AllSportCelebrities.com's SMR Software             Application completes verification that the ABC CMO is a             legitimate sender and reserves the sponsorship opportunity             for the ABC CMO.         -   10:02:40 p.m. ABC CMO returns the message containing the             Communication Code Account number.         -   10:02:55 p.m. ABC CMO receives a validation message from             SMR, saying something like the following:             -   Subject Line: Validation Notice—Sponsor Account No.                 89034             -   As you requested, we created Sponsor Account No. 89034                 for ABC Company and reserved a [Name of] sponsor                 opportunity for you. [Etc.]         -   Next day: The XYZ CMO, unaware that the last sponsorship             opportunity had been given to ABC CMO, could not locate a             computer and must wait until the next day to communicate             with AllSportCelebrities.com.

Components: “Must-have” components and elements necessary for the proper functioning of the Overall SMR System include, but are not limited to any one or combination of the following:

-   -   (a) A mobile device telephone number, e.g., a cellular telephone         number that is assigned by a cellular telephone company, such as         AT&T and Verizon, or an email address from a mobile device         carrier, or an IP address.     -   (b) A mobile device with MMS, SMS, SMTP, HTTP and/or any other         messaging protocol that allows in/out transmission of messages.     -   (c) User databases.     -   (d) Identifiers, such as more explicitly described herein.

Optional components include any large-screen television device, such as a 30″ television monitor or one as large as the Sony JumboTron® and/or other display monitors for showing close-up, enlarged pictures and videos to groups of people.

There are four principal modules in the Simple Mobile Registration System. Because all of the parts that make up the Simple Mobile Registration mechanism consist of software, or a combination of software and hardware (those parts together referenced herein as the “Sub-Applications”), the SMR Software Application modules work together by communicating via a variety of software protocols, including, but not limited to, proprietary protocols compiled within the Sub-Applications, as well as standard messaging and electronic communication formats, such as, but not limited to, MMS, SMS, SMTP, HTTP, and any other similar electronic communication protocols, formats or messaging methods that may become of standard usage. The Sub-Applications themselves may consist of (and operate on) any number of devices, including servers, mobile devices, and telecommunications equipment required by any of the aforementioned messaging protocols, formats, or methods.

The four principal Simple Mobile Registration modules are:

1. The Messaging and Processing System (the “M&P System”), which is the foundation of the Overall SMR System. It governs the inter-workings and communications by and among the principal parts of the Overall SMR System and makes possible electronic communications between the SMR Software Application and a User or his mobile device. The M&P System is able to process received Messages and to initiate other actions or messages. This M&P System, an integral part of the Overall SMR System, recognizes and interprets various commands or Identifiers within a Message that specifies a Registration and is able to send and receive Messages in the required format (such as, but not limited to, Short Message Service (“SMS”), Multimedia Messaging Service (“MMS”), Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (“SMTP”), and HyperText Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”)). The M&P System's principal functions are to (i) identify and validate a registered member, (ii) to identify, verify, and validate a new member and his registration data and information, (iii) to electronically determine that the individual sending a message is or is not a registered member, (iv) to determine when information or Identifiers present in a User's Message refer to Invitees, and to initiate the registration process with those Invitees, and (v) to process towards fulfillment any other activity that is requested in the Message. 2. The User Data Management System contains records of all existing registered users of a Service, including any information and Identifiers required to communicate with them via their mobile device. The User Data Management System consists of information contributed by each person or entity that uses the Simple Mobile Registration System or some other means of registration or sign-up, and serves as an organized receptacle of stored information and data about registered users and Invitees, based primarily on their unique telephone numbers and/or email addresses, as and on information and data about their activities, their mobile devices, and other relevant information and data. 3. A user interface to the Messaging and Processing System, which may be provided in any of the following structures:

-   -   (i) As a standalone software application for mobile devices or         computers, or     -   (ii) As a Web page-based or WAP-page based interface, or     -   (iii) As a “widget,” i.e., a portable piece of software code         that can be installed within a separate Web page or WAP page.         The M&P System user interface allows new user registration via         any electronic and mobile device capable of electronic messaging         by providing the means for sending messages in formats that         require such an interface such as, but not limited to, SMS, MMS,         SMTP, and HTTP.         4. A separate module for when the Simple Mobile Registration         System is included in any of a variety of third-party Services         that would benefit from an easy way for Users to register,         enroll, or sign-up for a Service from their mobile devices         rather than having to do so by using another system that         requires a personal computer. This module includes, but is not         limited to, any Service or application that employs SMR for         gathering User information and data that is provided in a mobile         device Message, and then processing the information and data to         enroll the User in such Service. Any such Service that employs         Simple Mobile Registration can consist of any number of         components and functions that are not relevant to the Simple         Mobile Registration mechanism itself. Simple Mobile Registration         is written to ignore irrelevant components and functions (which         may or may not be ultimately reviewed in a customer service         quality assurance process).

The component that serves as the foundation of Simple Mobile Registration is the Messaging and Processing Service, which governs the inter-workings and communication by and among the principal parts described herein, enabling and activating the Simple Mobile Registration mechanism. All of these components, including the Messaging and Processing Service, may be included in a broader software application.

Because all of the SMR parts and modules consist of software, or a combination of software and hardware, they work together by communication via a variety of software protocols, including, but not limited to, proprietary protocols compiled within the applications, as well as standard messaging and electronic communication formats, protocols, or methods that are or may in the future become of standard usage. The software applications themselves may operate on a variety of devices, including servers, mobile devices, and telecommunications equipment required by any of the messaging methods.

To date, the principal and sole method for registration or sign-up of users, including the capture and storage of user information and preferences, is achieved on Internet-based sites that use off-the-shelf or proprietary systems for registering and/or signing up users of these sites' services or offerings.

Examples

“Services” may include memberships and subscriptions, and access to research and case studies. “Offerings” may include the right to download programs free of charge, high-end white papers, or special sales and discounts, all of which require prior Registration.

The Simple Mobile Registration mechanism, made up of a combination of proprietary software, hardware, Identifiers, SMR databases, mobile phone numbers, email addresses, and other Identifiers, enable mobile devices, instead of solely computers, to automatically and electronically log, verify, validate, and create a permanent member, subscriber, or other user account.

The Simple Mobile Registration System uses information and data provided by the user to seamlessly register and/or sign up, in real time, by mobile device, any number of users of any electronic Service or application that requires the user to create a user account before he is allowed to use such Service or application. Simple Mobile Registration performs the following functions simultaneously and in real time:

-   -   (1) Allows a user to use his mobile device to seamlessly create         a user account.     -   (2) Allows a user to invite any number of other people to         register for the Service.     -   (3) Spontaneously verifies, validates, creates, and keeps track         of each new account.     -   (4) Allows the Simple Mobile Registration System to communicate         with each user by mobile device.     -   (5) Implements a double opt-in privacy process to allow the         Simple Mobile Registration System to communicate with each user.     -   (6) Implements a system of choices allowing the user to specify         his profile and other preferences.     -   (7) Issues to each new registrant a Welcome Letter and an access         code to the Service or application.     -   (8) Optional: Transfers the message for quality assurance and         customer service review.

When sending an electronic message in any messaging protocol by mobile device, individuals already registered for a Service or application, or individuals who are registering for the first time for such Service or application, using the Simple Mobile Registration System, may invite non-registered individuals (“Invitees”) by including them as recipients of the Message (a message usually but not necessarily always making a registration request) by entering each Invitees' telephone number, IP address, or email address, and/or supplementing the Message with identifiers that include, but are not limited to, specific keywords, symbols, tags, labels, and any other specific identifier that the Messaging and Processing System finds in the subject line or in the body of the Message (collectively, the “Identifiers”). When this information is sent to the Service or application employing SMR, the Messaging and Processing System checks whether the requested Invitees exist in their records, and sends each of them an invitation registration message on behalf of the original registrant via the aforementioned SMR process, and as more explicitly described below.

Step 1-Mobile Device User (the “User”) Initiates the Simple Mobile Registration System by Sending an Electronic Message. A mobile device User sends an electronic message from his mobile device, e.g., a cell phone, a smart phone, a Personal Digital Assistant, an Enterprise Digital Assistant, or any current and future mobile devices that use Multimedia Messaging Service, Short Message Service, Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, HyperText Transfer Protocol, or any another messaging protocol, format, or method to transmit messages from one person to a Service or to one or more separate persons.

Step 2—The Electronic Message Messaging and Processing System Identifies Users' Message Requests. The message contains an Identifier, i.e., a code, telephone number, email address, a keyword, or other identifying symbol, tag, or label that is either provided by the User or by the SMR System that identifies the message to the Messaging and Processing System as a registration request and/or a request to invite other users (by manually including in the message the unique Identifiers for these other individuals for whom the User wishes to initiate Simple Mobile Registration).

Step 2(a)—The Messaging and Processing System Processes the Message and Included Data (FIG. 1). When the User₁₀₁ sends a message containing the Identifiers and other relevant information_(101a), the Messaging and Processing System₁₀₂ performs the functions listed in this Step 2(a) and in the following Steps 2(b) and 2(c):

-   -   (i) Captures the User's unique identifying information, such as,         but not limited to, mobile service carrier name and mobile phone         number for SMS or MMS messages, an IP address, and/or browser,         cookie, and service provider information for HTTP messages, and         other identifiers, including but not limited to a coded request         to register the sender, a request to invite the sender's friends         to register along with him, a list of keywords, symbols, tags,         and labels, and/or any other specific identifier in the subject         line or in the body of a Message (collectively, the         “Identifiers”).     -   (ii) Checks the User Data Management System to see if the User         is currently registered₁₀₃. If the User is currently registered,         no further action is required except for normal system         operations_(104a) (unless other individuals have been included         in the message—see Step 2(b)).     -   (iii) If the User is not registered, the User Data Management         System creates a unique record for that User within the User         Data Management System₁₀₅, identifying the User's registration         status as “unregistered.” The Messaging & Processing System₁₀₆         then sends the User a verification electronic message containing         a unique verification code, as well as any instructions required         by the User to continue the process, and, if applicable, to use         the service or application after registration is         complete_(106a).     -   (iv) When the User receives the verification message on his         mobile device₁₀₇, he must return a message to the Messaging and         Processing System and include the unique verification code that         was included in the message he received, in order to verify his         desire to register_(107a).     -   (v) Upon receipt of the verification message from the User, the         Messaging and Processing System₁₀₈ (a) updates that User's         record in the User Data Management System with information         identifying him as an activated or registered user, completing         the registration for this User 111, and (b) then initiates any         further actions associated with the receipt of the User's         original message_(104a), such as, but not limited to, (x)         applying the SMR System to Invitees (as more explicitly         described in Step 2(b)), and unless the Messaging and Processing         System terminated activity because of defective or missing         unique Identifiers, (y) diverting a copy of the Message to a         person-monitored customer service department for final review to         ensure that all User requests have been attended to. If the User         does not send a verification message, registration is not         completed₁₁₀.

Step 2(b)—The Simple Mobile Registration Process Simultaneously Captures and Processes Information and Data for Specified Recipients of the User's Message (FIG. 2). If the User₂₀₁ included information and Identifiers for other potential recipients of the message (i.e., Invitees), the Messaging and Processing System₂₀₂ initiates an additional sequence of actions based on this information:

-   -   (i) Captures the Identifiers for the Invitees, and checks the         User Data Management System to see if any of the Invitees are         currently registered_(203, 204). For any already-registered         Invitees, no further action is required except for the normal         operations performed by the Overall SMR System to complete the         Simple Mobile Registration and/or by the overall Service or         application_(204a).         -   If included Invitees are not registered, the Messaging and             Processing System creates a unique record for each such             unregistered Invitee within the User Data Management System,             where they are each identified as an unregistered user₂₀₅.             The Messaging and Processing System₂₀₈ then sends an             electronic message_(206a) to each of the Invitees, using             their mobile device phone number, or email address, or IP             address, consisting of the following: (a) an invitation to             register with the Service or application, and (b) a unique             code specified by the Messaging and Processing System,             and (c) any instructions required for the unregistered             Invitee to complete the registration process and, if             applicable, instructions for functions provided by the             Overall SMR System and/or the overall Service or application             once registration is completed.     -   (ii) When the Invitee receives the verification message in his         mobile device₂₀₇, he must return to the Messaging and Processing         System the message containing the unique code in order to verify         his registration_(207a).     -   (iii) Upon receipt of the verification message, the Messaging         and Processing System_(208, 209) (a) validates the user, (b)         updates the newly registered user's record in the User Data         Management System with information identifying him as an         activated or registered user₂₁₁, thus completing the         registration for this new user (and former Invitee), (c)         implements any further actions associated with the receipt of         the Message from the original User who initiated the         invitation_(204a) and (d) may or may not divert a copy of the         Message to a person-monitored customer service department for         final quality assurance review and to ensure that all User         requests have been attended to properly.

Step 2(c)—The Simple Mobile Registration System Monitors Message Senders' Registration Status. The Simple Mobile Registration System is written to search and find a unique user-associated Identifier in a mobile device message, such as, but not limited to, a cellular carrier's name, an IP address, a cell phone number, a keyword, tag, or symbol. If one or more of the Identifiers are not in the registered-user database, then the SMR System flags the message as coming from a potentially unacceptable sender. In such a case, the SMR System will:

-   -   (i) First verify that the message was sent by a legitimate         sender; then confirm that the User wishes to register himself         and/or to invite others to register (the Invitees); verify that         each Invitee is legitimate and unregistered; and if so, expedite         the registration process, which includes giving the sender a         series of choices, such as, but not limited to opt-in/opt-out         privacy and other similar user-associated choices. In all cases         in which SMR is invoked, the registrant may be the original User         or any one or all of the Invitees that sequentially derive from         the original User and then from Invitees themselves.     -   (ii) However, if the SMR Software Application determines (a)         that an unregistered sender is not legitimate, then all activity         with respect to that message is terminated, or (b) that a         registered sender has provided defective Invitee information,         then the System generates an alert to the sender that such         information is defective and the invitation request for that         defective Invitee alone will be terminated.

Step 3—The Simple Mobile Registration System May Be Used For Any Service or Application That Requires Capturing, Organizing, Storing, and Retrieving User Information. If a User sends an electronic message (or uses any other electronic protocol to transmit his message) to a Service or application that uses the SMR Software Application to process sign-ups and/or registrations, such as enrolling for a membership or for a subscription to a service, and the message is addressed to a telephone number or email address assigned by a carrier or by the service or application, and/or the message has other legitimate Identifiers in the subject line or in the body, the SMR Software Application is written to discern the presence of acceptable Identifiers and will initiate a series of automatic, electronic routines whose collective purpose is (a) to confirm that the message sender wishes to enroll for a specific service, or to enroll in a specific group, or to sign up to benefit from a specific application (together, the “Service”), and (b) to confirm whether the User has provided appropriate information indicating his desire to invite friends to enroll (i.e., the Invitees), then the SMR Software Application expedites the enrollment/sign-up/registration process, including, but not limited to, providing the sender a series of choices related to the sender's preferences.

In all cases in which SMR is invoked, the registrant may be the original message sender or any one or all of the Invitees that sequentially derive from the original sender and then from Invitees themselves.

Although Simple Mobile Registration has been designed to allow people to register for any service that maintains electronic records of authorized users and that requires a registration process, this same Simple Mobile Registration System may be applied to identity-verification schemes that rely on the exchange of data between a user and an electronic system, such as, but not limited to the following examples:

-   -   (1) Signing up for a contest.     -   (2) Signing up to receive something that will be delivered by         U.S. mail or some other non-computerized delivery system.     -   (3) Registering for membership with an organization that         provides services on any medium that is capable of electronic         messaging, including, but not limited to, a mobile device, a Web         site, or a WAP site.     -   (4) Registering for any third-party service that is offered on         any medium that is capable of electronic messaging, such as, but         not limited to, a mobile device, a Web site, or a WAP site.

The overall objective of SMR is to achieve (i) easier, faster, and more convenient registration, enrollment, or sign-up (collectively referred to herein as “Registration”) than is presently possible because nothing like the Simple Mobile Registration Application is to date available via mobile device, and (ii) the gathering and processing of user-, provider/vendor-, and mobile device carrier-provided data, information, and requests via not just computers and Web pages, which is the standard method, but also via any mobile device that is capable of transmitting and receiving electronic messages.

The components used to structure and to implement Simple Mobile Registration may vary in their specific implementation. The underlying code that governs the process, functions and sequence (the “Process”) of Simple Mobile Registration may be customized to a specific situation. Further, because the Simple Mobile Registration mechanism is governed in large part by software code, it may, for example, be implemented in a number of different programming languages. The electronic and telecommunications equipment and other hardware associated with the software could likewise take any number of forms as designed by their manufacturers. For example, there are distinct (and often proprietary) differences in the design and structure of a Nokia cell phone versus a Fujitsu cell phone. For the purposes of the messaging required by the Process, messages could be sent in protocols other than Short Message Service (“SMS”), Multimedia Messaging Service (“MMS”), Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (“SMTP”), and HyperText Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”) messages. For example, messages could be sent as Bluetooth Messaging Service (“BMS”) messages over a Bluetooth network, or any of a number of other Messaging Protocols used for sending messages over wireless networks.

Simple Mobile Registration allows users to send a registration request for themselves and for their specified friends, from their mobile device via any existing electronic messaging protocol, such as, but not limited to, Short Message Service (“SMS”), Multimedia Messaging Service (“MMS”), Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (“SMTP”), and HyperText Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”) (collectively referred to herein as the “Messaging Protocols”), to the Messaging and Processing System, a “receiving system” module of the overall Simple Mobile Registration System (“Receiving System”). The Receiving System (1) returns a verification code to the user's and his specified friends' (collectively, the “Registrants”) mobile devices, also via one of the electronic messaging protocols. Each Registrant verifies his intention to register by sending the verification code back to the Receiving System. The Receiving System automatically identifies and validates each Registrant and his respective verification code, and then creates a registration account that allows each new Registrant to access and use the service that required the pre-registration. 

1. Simple Mobile Registration mechanism and underlying software application (together, “SMR”) allowing users to sign up, enroll, and/or register themselves and their specified friends, via an electronic mobile device, for any service or application requiring pre-registration.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of a User sending an electronic message from his mobile device instead of from a computer.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein sending an electronic message comprises using a standard messaging protocol, such as, but not limited to MMS, SMS, HTTP, and/or SMTP.
 4. The method of claim 2 wherein sending an electronic message comprises the step of directing the message to a unique identifier, such as an e-mail address assigned by a mobile device carrier, or an IP address, or a telephone number assigned by a mobile device carrier, or browser, cookie, and/or service provider information for HTTP messages (the “Primary Identifiers”).
 5. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of receiving the electronic message in the SMR Processing and Messaging module of the SMR Software Application.
 6. The method of claim 3 wherein receiving the electronic message comprises the Processing and Messaging module electronically recognizing, capturing, and interpreting symbols, tags, labels, coded requests, and/or other identifying information provided by the User or by the SMR System on a subject line or in the body of a message (the “Identifiers”).
 7. The method of claim 4 comprising the step of verifying that the electronic message sender is legitimate.
 8. The method of claim 4 wherein the SMR system verifies the legitimacy of the message sender comprising the further step of allocating a coded number to the electronic message and transmitting the message containing the coded number to the message sender for verification.
 9. The method of claim 4 wherein the SMR System verifies the message sender's legitimacy further comprising the step of requiring that the message sender electronically return to the SMR System the message containing the coded number.
 10. The method of claim 4 wherein the SMR System verifies the message sender's legitimacy further comprising the step of receiving the verification code from the sender.
 11. The method of claim 5 comprising the step of searching the SMR User Data Management System, a module of the SMR Software Application, to determine whether the message sender is already registered or not.
 12. The method of claim 5 wherein the SMR System verifies the message sender's registration status, further comprising the step of (a) stopping registration functions as to the sender if it is determined that the sender is already registered; (b) if not already registered, storing the message sender's unique, primary identifiers in the SMR User Data Management System; and (c) sending a permanent validation code and message to the user's mobile device.
 13. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of verifying whether the message sender has requested registration invitations for friends (the “Invitees”) and determining whether any of the Invitees are already registered.
 14. The method of claim 5 wherein the SMR System verifies whether any Invitees are already registered further comprising the steps of halting the registration functions as to Invitees who are determined to be already registered or whose information and data are defective, but processing the registration invitations as to Invitees who are not already registered.
 15. The method of claim 5 wherein the SMR System processes invitations to unregistered Invitees further comprising a repetition of all of the steps encompassing the whole of claim 4 as to the Invitees, and also sending an electronic message to the Invitees explaining the reason for and purpose of the registration invitation.
 16. The method of claim 6 comprising the step of opening a registered account for each of the newly registered message sender and Invitees, allowing them to access and use the services and/or applications that required the registration.
 17. The method of claim 6 wherein the SMR System opens new registration accounts comprising the further steps of updating each such new registrant's record in the User Data Management System with information identifying them as active users, sending Welcome letters automatically and electronically, enabling new registrant preferences.
 18. The method of claim 7 comprising the step of initiating any further actions associated with or requested in the original sender's message and electronically sending a duplicate of the sender's original message to a quality assurance/customer service department. 